Around the Township

In a match-up that most Uxbridge Bruins fans relish, the Bruins opened their semi-final playoffs against their arch-rivals, the Port Perry MoJacks, with a 6-1 win at the arena Monday afternoon.

The best-of-seven series resulted from Port Perry’s defeat of the Clarington Eagles in their mini-series to determine who would face the Bruins. With neither team taking advantage of home ice, the MoJacks downed the Eagles two games to one. Then, having played three games in four days, the MoJacks entered the arena for their fourth game in five days.

With almost 400 fans in the seats, the Bruins, sporting brand new yellow helmets instead of their usual black helmets, started the game in a business-like manner and took a four-goal lead before Port Perry even hit the scoreboard.

Daniel Giorgio opened the scoring near the midway mark of the first period after taking a perfect pass from Toby Cooper. Jackson Savery followed with what proved to be the game-winner two minutes later, assisted by Matthew Hunter and Justin Bennett.

In the second period, Hunter took a pass from Bennett Britton, rushed down the right side of the rink with determination and put the puck in the net. Cameron Moffitt also received an assist. Just past the halfway mark, Joshua Cammalleri made it 4-0, assisted by Bennett. Port Perry’s only goal came late in the period when Noah Donaghy scored on the power play with Bennett serving a double minor for tripping.

Just 40 seconds into the third period, captain Aiden Reilly scored the fifth Bruins goal, assisted by Bennett and Savery; Bennett then assisted on Savery’s goal with the second assist going to Cammalleri.

The Bruins more than doubled the MoJacks’ shots on goal, launching 58 missiles at Port Perry goalie Corey Kuypers while Ryan McConkey faced only 26.

The Cosmos selected Bennett as the Bruins’ player of the game and Donaghy for the MoJacks.

The two teams meet again tonight (Thursday) at the Scugog arena at 8:15 p.m., followed by a game tomorrow in Uxbridge at 7:45 p.m., and a Sunday game in Port Perry at 2:25 p.m. If more games are needed, the fifth will be in Uxbridge on Monday with a late start of 8:45 p.m., the sixth in Port Perry next Thursday at 8:15 p.m., and the seventh in Uxbridge on Friday, March 1, at 7:45 p.m.

Bear pause: Prior to the start of Monday’s game, the first-place Bruins were presented with the league champions trophy and McConkey received his award from the OHA as the goalie of the month.

Following the game, more than three dozen people joined the Bruins for an hour-long family skate, with the players helping small children navigate the ice and posing for group photos.

Provincial agri minister visits Uxbridge farmers

by Roger Varley

About 30 members of the North Durham farming community gathered at Brooks Farms last Thursday to meet with provincial Agriculture Minister Ernie Hardeman and Pickering-Uxbridge MPP and Treasury Board president Peter Bethlenfalvy.

The farmers, who were all selected and invited, represented a mix of farming activities, as well as the Ontario Farmers Association and the agriculture advisory committee. Also on hand were Mayor Dave Barton and councillors Pam Beach and Willie Popp. Barton and Bethlenfalvy developed the list of who would be invited.

The meeting was closed to the media, but Popp said some of the subjects raised in the close to two-hour roundtable discussion included rural Internet and natural gas distribution, the costs of doing business, red tape, access to funding and federal/provincial inspections. He said the farmers voiced frustrations and disappointments.

Beach said the roundtable discussion confirmed a lot of concerns she has, being the wife of a farmer with a mixed farming operation, but did not elaborate. Nevertheless, she said it was a good and important meeting.

She noted that Hardeman said it was the largest agriculture roundtable he has had, and Haldeman himself said these kinds of meetings are important.”

The minister arrived 55 minutes after the roundtable had begun.

The Cosmos nominated for two provincial awards

The Uxbridge Cosmos has been nominated for two Better Newspaper Competition (BNC) awards, which are sponsored by the Ontario Community Newspaper Association (OCNA).

Finalists for the BNCs were announced last Thursday, and the Cosmos was named a finalist in the Community Service category for its series of articles based on Doug Griffiths’ book “13 Ways to Kill Your Community.” Each of Griffiths’ book chapters were reviewed by Cosmos writers Roger Varley and Lisha Van Nieuwenhove, then measured against the reality of the situation in the Township of Uxbridge. The series culminated in a presentation from Doug Griffiths, as well as a summary piece in the paper on how well Uxbridge fared compared to Griffiths’ book.

The other nomination came for Cosmos publisher/editor Lisha Van Nieuwenhove, who was nominated as a finalist for Humour Columnist of the Year.

Finalists for the BNCs are selected from a wide range of newspapers from across the province, including both independent and corporately owned titles.

The awards will be presented at a gala to be held in Toronto on April 5.

Award-winning music benefits popular scholarship

Abby Zotz, winner of the LA Music Critics’ award for Best international Artist 2018, is bringing her musical talent to Uxbridge to support the Uxbridge Music Scholarship Trust (UMST). Zotz will perform alongside Anne Gringras, Joel Saunders, Anna Marie Therrien, Bryden Chernoff and Chris Sunders at a fundraiser concert this Saturday, Feb. 23, at St. Andrews Chalmer’s Presbyterian Church at 7:30 p.m. Ted Barris will MC the evening.

Her recently released solo CD, “Local Honey,” features original music with social and environmental themes, and has received accolades from across North America.

The UMST provides assistance to young Uxbridge musicians who are beginning their post-secondary journey. Since its inception in 1998, UMST has awarded nearly $73,000 to 59 students, many of whom are now professional musicians.

Tickets available at the door. Adults $15; students $10; children 10 and under no charge. Refreshments and an opportunity to meet the musicians will follow the concert.

Udora getting in its Yuk Yuk’s this Saturday night

Beat the February blahs by laughing it up this Saturday night in Udora.

The Udora Community Hall Board is hosting a Yuk Yuk’s Stand-Up Comedy fundraiser for the hall; the

night promises three outstanding performers.

First on the bill is comedian Keith Pedro. Pedro was recently featured on Kevin Hart’s “Laugh Out Loud” network, and has toured the globe sharing his wit with many different audiences, from Montreal’s Just For Laughs comedy festival to CBC’s Halifax Comedy Festival.

Also on the programme is Juliana Rodrigues. Rodrigues began performing stand-up at the age of 15, and only five years later is reportedly gaining popularity in the Toronto comedy scene. In May 2017, the Canadian Press did a segment about her journey entitled, “Canada 150: On stage with a Teenage Stand-up Comedian,” and since then, she’s become a regular performer on some of the most prestigious comedy shows in the city.

Comic Rob Bebenek rounds out Saturday night’s trio. Bebenek has entertained audiences from coast to coast. Bebenek has reportedly received major praise from peers and critics alike, as well as from the crowds he entertains. His routine “rips apart day to day life and calls out idiocy in the world as he sees it.”

Everyone is invited to head to Udora for what is guaranteed to be a hilarious night! Doors and licensed bar open at 7 p.m.; show starts at 8 p.m. Tickets are $25 per person (adults 19 and over only) and are available at the Udora General Store, the UPI Gas Bar, or by calling 705-228-8102.

In the past, Yuk Yuk’s events have sold out, so getting tickets promptly is encouraged. All proceeds from this event go to support Udora Community Hall.